Beyond body mass index (BMI) : The role of diabetes and central obesity in fracture risk—Insights from the UK biobank
Authors' conclusion
Although a higher BMI appears protective, central obesity and diabetes are important contributors to increased fracture risk in individuals with obesity. These findings emphasize that, beyond maintaining a healthy weight, clinicians should assess central obesity and diabetes to better identify those at high fracture risk.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participantsUK Biobank
- Participants
- 446,219 participants
- Exposure
- BMI categories and tertiles of waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)
- Outcome
- Fracture incidence
Methodological detailsmultivariable Cox models, stratified by diabetes status
- Multivariable Cox models
- Stratified by diabetes status
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Fracture
Each group vs normal weightAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Overweight
0.79(0.76–0.82)
Obesity
0.73(0.70–0.77)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Fracture by WC and WHtR
- Higher WC and WHtR generally associated with lower fracture risk; U-shaped pattern observed
Fracture with higher WC, within overweight and obesity
- Higher WC, overweight: aHR
- 1.12 (1.05-1.20) (95% CI)
- Higher WC, obesity: aHR
- 1.23 (1.12-1.35) (95% CI)
Fracture by diabetes status
- DM independently associated with higher fracture risk across all BMI categories, further elevated with central obesity
Original publication
Beyond BMI : The role of diabetes and central obesity in fracture risk—Insights from the UK biobank. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 1 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →